Copy of a large lance used during plague epidemics in Marseilles, France in the 1600s

Made:
Unknown in Europe
Copy of large lancet used for opening plague buboes during Copy of large lancet used for opening plague buboes during

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Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

Buy this image as a print 

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License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

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Copy of large lancet used for opening plague buboes during
Science Museum Group
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Copy of large lancet used for opening plague buboes during
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Copy of large lancet used for opening plague buboes during plague epidemics at Marseilles during the 17th century

Plague epidemics ravaged Marseilles in France throughout the 1600s and 1700s. Lancets, such as the copy shown here, were used to open buboes in order to relieve pressure and also remove poisons from the body – an unsuccessful attempt to cure the patient. The lancet would have been stored in a brass case.

Details

Category:
Surgery
Collection:
Sir Henry Wellcome's Museum Collection
Object Number:
A115570
Materials:
steel and brass
Measurements:
overall: 21 mm x 422 mm x 20 mm, .18kg
type:
lance